Blind Chinese human rights lawyer, Chen Guangcheng, says he wishes to go to the U.S.

Chen made the appeal on Thursday in a phone call to Congressman Chris Smith who presided over a hearing on the Chinese lawyer’s situation. Chen made the call at a hospital in Beijing where he is currently being treated for injuries he suffered during his escape from house arrest on Sunday.

Chen fled to the U.S. Embassy and stayed there for six days, sparking a diplomatic standoff between Washington and Beijing. He left the Embassy last Wednesday after U.S. officials told him that China had guaranteed his safety.

During Thursday’s phone conversation, Chen told the U.S. lawmaker that he wants to go to the United States and that he would like to get help from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The phone call was organized by the head of an anti-China human rights group in the U.S.

In the call, Chen clearly stated his thoughts in a relatively bright voice.